Your puppy depends on you to make its new home as happy  and as comfortable as possible. Moving a puppy away from its littermates and mother can cause a great deal of trauma in its young life. That's why you should do everything possible to make your new family member feel like an important and accepted part of your home.

            Use the following guidelines to ease your puppy's transition into your household:
 

•                  Check your house for any items that your curious puppy can chew, such as electrical cords, shoes, papers and phone cords.
•                  Dog-proof your outside yard and patio areas. If you have a swimming pool, make sure that your puppy can't fall in and accidentally drown.
•                  Make sure your house doesn't have any objects that your puppy could catch its collar on. It is a good idea to check for these areas on all-fours in order to get a "puppy view" of your home.
•                  Keep your puppy away from small children and other pets while it adjusts to its new environment.
•                  Avoid loud sounds, like the vacuum cleaner, that could scare your puppy.
•                  Provide your puppy with a comfortable bed or crate that will make it feel warm and safe.
•                  Play with your puppy to help it adjust and come to trust you as a friend and companion.
•                  Make sure your puppy has a clean supply of water readily available.
•                  Have some toys ready for your puppy so it feels that its new home is a fun place to be.